Arbor Day – celebrated in communities around the world – is a day to appreciate the importance of trees as a vital natural resource. After all, trees have a big job. They clean the air and water… provide food and habitat for wildlife… give us products in the form of wood, lumber and paper… and, of course, help beautify our community.

How to participate in Arbor Day?

Visit Rieke Park Lodge on April 27-28 to purchase a tree (or more than one!). We’ll have 500 trees for sale. (Be aware—we sold out last year.) Click here to see the variety of trees we’ll have available, most already 4-6 feet tall.

Decide on a place to plant your tree.

Start diggin’ (If you need some instruction on planting, we’ll have informational flyers onsite during Arbor Day. Or you can check out this video provided by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.)

In Auburn, we encourage residents and businesses to plant trees in their yards or on their property. And, if families or community groups are interested, they can even choose to donate and plant a tree in one of Auburn’s community parks. If you are interested in planting a tree in one of our parks, you must contact me at 260-925-2997 to make arrangements.

I hope to see you at this year’s Arbor Day Tree Sale. It’s one of my favorite activities we support. As J. Sterling Morton, the man who first proposed a tree planting holiday to be called “Arbor Day” back in 1871, said: “Other holidays repose upon the past; Arbor Day proposes for the future.”